The 10 Essentials Updated

The point of the Ten Essentials list (developed by The Mountaineers, with origins in the climbing course taught by the Club since the 1930s) has always been to help answer two basic questions: First, can you respond positively to an accident or emergency? Second, can you safely spend a night—or more—out?

Several of the items in the classic list are combined in the new system list. Logically, map and compass have been united under “navigation,” as have firestarter and matches. I think it’s interesting that the new list doesn’t explicitly include a knife, something I consider essential when traveling in the outdoors, but if you read the annotation on the article about the 10 essential systems on The Mountaineers’ website, they include a knife under “repair kit and tools.” A knife is – of course – a tool.

I read somewhere I can’t remember about the shift from Boy Scouts carrying a traditional Boy Scout Pocket Knife (with can opener and awl) to carrying a multitool, since it fits contemporary Scouts’ gear better. It was an insightful observation. Still, I carry a dedicated knife (a – gasp! – sheath knife, even!) and usually have a multi-tool on me, a well.